The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-18


From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Santa Cruz ghost, which is en-
crossing the attention of the citizens of
that famous watering place by its mid
night revelries, recalls legend of San
Juan, in the adjoinging county, told
the writer many years ago by a narra-
tor no less credible than good old
Spanish priest, with whom the writer
happened to be staying on few days
visit.
One morning after breakfast l ex-
pressed wish to stroll into the ancient
graveyard attached to the old adobe
church of that quaint little Mexican
town. The old padre, with the kind
ness and courtesy characteristic of the
simple missionary fathers at once ac-
ceded and accompanied the writer, rela-
ting as we walked among the graves
the brief history of some one who lay
quietly beneath. "Here," he observed
with a quiet smile as he pointed to
grave in the middle of the cemetery,
.'here is grave which the simple old
Mexican families around here look up
on with unusual interest, if not with
actual awe"
"a murderer?
"No, no Something much stranger
/ have tried to combat the idea and
while l would he addressing the people
they would say, Isl, 81 Padre They
would assent to all | said, but the be-
lief remained and does remain indell-
BILE.
"a spirit" he began, sis said to have
appeared to everyone buried in that
grave and to warn the family when
ever anv of them is about to pass away
ats appearance which is made in the
following manner, is believed to be uni
formly fatal, being an omen of death
to those who are so unhappy as to meet
with it.
"When funeral takes place the
spirit is said to watcn the person who
remains last in the graveyard, over
whom 1t possesses a fascinating in
fuence.
IA lbe person be young man the
spirit takes the shape of a fascinating
female, inspires him with a charmed
passion, and exacts promise that he
will meet her at the gravey ard a month
from that day. This promise is sealed
with kiss, that communicates dead
ly taint to him who complies.
"The spirit then disappears. No
sooner does the person from whom il
received the promise and the kiss pass
the boundary of the churchyard than
he remembers the history of the spectre
He sinks into despair ard insanity and
dies. If, ON the con,rory, the spectre
appears to female, it assumes the
form of young man of exceeding ele
gsnce and beauty
The padre showed Inc the grave of q
young person about Is years of age
who was said four months before u
have fallen victim to it. "Ten month,
ago" the father said, "a man gave tn,
promise and the fatal kiss, and conse
quently looked upon himself as lost
He took fever and died, and wa
buried on the day appointed for tn
meeting, which was exactly month
after the fatal interview.
''lncredlble as it may appear, tn
friends OF these two persons solemnl,
declared to me that the particulars o
the interview were repeatedly detaile
by the two persons without the slight
est variation.
"There are several cases of the sam
kind mentioned, but the two case
alluded 70 are the only ones that cam
within my personal knowledge.
sit appears, however, that the spectr
does not contine its operations to tn
graveyard only. There have been in
stances mentioned of its appearance 8
wedding and social parties, where
never tailed to secure its victims b
dancing them into pleuritic feyers.'
On being questioned as to what h
might think of such possible occu
rences, the good father simply smile
and shook his head.